I LEFT EVERYTHING BEHIND

FIONA'S POV

Two days had passed, and my husband and daughter had not responded to me. They were always at the family house.

Jasper moved from the family real estate company to the house. He didn't care that his wife was here. Dying. Alone.

May had already been won over by her father's family. What could I do? I had tried to talk to her for the past few days but she was treating me like a virus.

I stared at the drugs I placed on the counter. My health got so bad, I had to buy the medication the doctor had given me.

Why was this happening to me? Six months. I guess it's for the best. I would leave this world of suffering.

Filled with hatred and power hungry people. I remembered when I met Jasper at the club where I worked as a barista.

He was caring and loving, not this controlled man that I know now.

He would take me out on dates and meet up with my late mom. My mom. She was the only person I had. She had found a crying child on the road and didn't abandon her.

Right now, I wish she didn't. I was cursed. I brought death to her and brought childlessness on the Armstrongs.

Maybe if I had died that night as a baby, I wouldn't know this pain I was feeling now.

My thoughts were getting darker as I looked at the empty box in front of me. I had tried to convince myself that I shouldn't leave.

What would happen to my family? What would happen to me? Where the hell was I going?

But I had to go. If I was going to die, I would rather die with happiness than with sorrow and pain.

Why was I bothered about the surrogacy? Pregnancy takes nine months, and I have less than six months. It was stupid of me to fight them.

I won't even be here to see the end of it. I walked to the walk-in closet and picked a few clothes from the hangers.

One of the dresses was the one Jasper bought for me to go see his mom for the first time.

~~~

“And a gift for you. You look stunning.” He handed me the bag. When I opened it, the gown was stunning indeed.

A breathtaking dinner gown is a floor-length emerald green silk-satin mermaid dress that hugs the body's curves.

“But I have good clothes. I don't have to be all fancy.”

Jasper swooped me in his arms. “You know, I prefer you without clothes anyway. But you need to impress my mom for this to work. Okay, my love?”

~~~

I smiled bitterly at the memory. What happened to that Jasper?

My phone buzzed as it lit up. I picked it up and there was a notification from My Heart. I rolled my eyes at the name.

My Heart: [I will be coming home late, babe.]

He was sending me this at 6:30. I scoffed at the message. Why did he send me this? To imagine all the things he could be doing with his “surrogate” while he works.

I wasn't allowed at his office because I was classless. And probably seeing me will scare off clients.

I had literally eaten shit in this marriage. And my mother made me swear that I won't let my background make me become a rag for others. But here I was today. Even a rag was better than me.

I heard May singing outside. I quickly folded the clothes and went to see her.

She had just entered her room, and I went in with her.

“Hey, baby.” I smiled as I got in.

“Mommy?” Her voice was cold and irritated. What did I do to deserve this?

“May.” I sat down on her bed beside her. “What did I do to deserve this treatment from you? Talk to mommy?”

“I like Aunt April. You don't want her to be here. Please, I want her to be my mommy.” She pleaded with wet eyes.

As I watched her beg me for another woman, my heart shattered all over again.

“W-why do you want her? April. Why do you want April to be your…mother?” My heart began beating rapidly. I honestly didn't want the answer to that question.

“She buys me the things I like. She takes me out. She picks me up from school. And I talk to her about everything.”

“Don't you do those things with me?”

“No! You don't take me out. You are always inside this house. And fighting granny. April always laughs with granny.”

I faked a smile. Granny, huh? I'm sure she was behind this rift with me and my family.

“Baby, mommy is sick, that’s why.”

I waited for her to ask what was wrong but she didn't.

“Mommy’s sickness is very bad. I have to go away for a while.”

“Will you take Aunt April with you? Please leave her here. Don't take her.”

The tears finally flowed from my eyes. My daughter had made my decision to leave easy.

“I won't, she will stay with you.”

She wanted April, I will give her April. I got up and my eyes fell on the picture of May's baby picture. With me and Jasper holding her tightly.

Our bundle of joy. The symbol of our love. I wiped my tears as I left her room, walked into my room, and packed my luggage…

I had my bath and by the time I was done, it was 8:00pm on the dot. I picked up my bag and left the room.

I remembered coming in here with all smiles but now I'm leaving here and no one cares.

Was I doing the right thing? I had no idea. But I was doing what was right by me.

I carried my luggage and walked out of the mansion. I was leaving, so I had no right to take any cars.

I looked at how far away the main gate was but I was determined to leave, so I dragged it as I left.

‘Don’t take Aunt April with you.’ Those were May's last words to me.

My last words to my mom were for her to take me with her. Maybe she was answering those prayers. Maybe she was tired of seeing me suffer.

As I got closer to the main gate, the gates opened and Jasper's car drove in. He was with someone in the car.

I stopped in my tracks as the car drove in the direction of the family house.

Jasper came down and opened the passenger door for someone. April stepped out of the car.

A loud thunder sounded, and she embraced him tightly. He quickly held her as he took her inside the house.

Slowly, the rain began, and my body was soaked. Tears mixed with the rain as I dropped the luggage and ran towards the gate.

My mind went blank. There was no need keeping those items with me. I had to leave. I had to be free.

I had my backpack. My important documents were safe there. I got to the gate, opened the small gate and ran out into the driveway.

Memories of Jasper and me kissing as we drove in here on my wedding day replayed.

Eight years of marriage gone like the wind. I ran until I got to the main road. Everything was getting blurry again.

My head had started hurting again. I looked to the left as I began running to an unknown destination.

‘Love. What do you know about love?’

‘You can die for all I care!’

‘I want her to be my mommy.’

Their words kept hitting me like the raindrops. I tried crossing the road but the world was spinning.

I couldn't see. I tried crossing, when a bright flash of light approached me, accompanied by a loud honk. What was that?

Did Jasper finally come for me? Then suddenly I was forcefully thrown into the air.

‘You can die for all I care.’ The world went black.